Mitt Romney's Free and Strong America PAC announced Thursday that it has raised $1.6 million during the first six months of this year.

(CNN) – Former Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has bested fellow Republican Gov. Sarah Palin in the fundraising race in the first half of the year, a very early indicator of potential strength in the 2012 GOP presidential race.

Romney's Free and Strong America PAC raised $1.6 million in the first six months of this year, according to a statement released by the political action committee Thursday. (updated Thursday: a Romney aide has provided CNN with a total number of donors, both itemized and unitemized, for the first half of the year.)

Romney's take is more than twice the roughly $730,000 raised in the same period by Palin's SarahPAC - but the Alaska governor's political action committee has pulled in an additional $200,000 since she announced July 3 that she would be leaving office by the end of the month. Romney and Palin each received funds from more than 11,000 contributors.
Romney's PAC had roughly $841,000 in cash on hand as of June 30. It said Thursday it had contributed about $36,000 to federal candidates and political action committees and nearly another $27,000 to state candidates.

Romney's PAC contributed $5000 each to South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, Virginia Rep. Eric Cantor, Missouri Rep. Roy Blunt, and to Jim Tedisco, who mounted an unsuccessful bid in New York's 20th Congressional District during a special election earlier this year. The PAC also contributed $1000 each to a group of Republicans who were targeted in a Democratic ad campaign because of their opposition to the $787 stimulus bill passed soon after President Obama took office.

Romney's PAC contributed to four Republicans in Virginia running for state offices, as well as to Chris Christie who is running against New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine in 2010.

The New Hampshire affiliate of Romney's federal PAC also contributed $10,000 to the New Hampshire Republican Party, according to Thursday's statement.

soundoff(274 Responses)

cjr

who cares what these idiots do – republicans are in the past mitt is out of touch and out of date – sarah – well, we all know about sarah.

July 16, 2009 01:07 pm at 1:07 pm |

Tolerence

I don't know the political leanings of most of these commentators (Democrats) but I'm baffled by all these personal attacks (nutjobs, idiots, bible thumpers, stupid, bigots etc...) what happen to the tolerant liberals of the world? Do I smell a bit of fear that Obama's policies are becoming unpopular and Romney's ACTUAL EXPERIENCE worries the happy liberals?

July 16, 2009 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

Ryan

Did anyone notice this comment: "A Romney spokesman would not disclose the number of donors who contributed to that total."

Already there is secrecy. Is Romney afraid to show that the "Conservative Elite" are his only donors?

July 16, 2009 01:08 pm at 1:08 pm |

gary l. rhodes

At a time when the conservative movement is trying to pull America out of the dive into the abyss of socialism, individual fund raising should take a back seat to a national fund raising campaign to have the necessary capitol it will take to remove the liberals from their seats in the house and senate, thus returning sanity back to the government. Just remember the old Adige "divided and conquer". Conservatives must join together as one. Egos' must be set aside for the common good.

July 16, 2009 01:09 pm at 1:09 pm |

Marcus, Great Lakes IL

mnj,
"It does make sense for her to step aside and these baseless ethic complaints need to be halted somehow legally so lawmakers can
do there job."

And you know they are baseless because?????????

July 16, 2009 01:10 pm at 1:10 pm |

Shawn - GA

Lynne July 16th, 2009 12:47 pm ET

Obviously American "democracy" is for sale.

----------------------------

Yep that is exactly how our President today got elected. Every negative that should have kept him out was hushed with $$$$ spent on spin.

He is our President now regardless and we all need to he does more good than harm. (same as any of us daily)

God bless America, her people and her President

July 16, 2009 01:11 pm at 1:11 pm |

Ryan

Come on... can't the Republicans find candidates that are less flawed than these two... I can't stand either of them.

July 16, 2009 01:11 pm at 1:11 pm |

Mike O'Brien

This would make a very interesting team. However, with Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska pulling out.., I just don't know. I don't know if it was wise for Governor Sarah Palin to resign or quit her job as Governor of Alaska. I almost feel, like Sarah is letting the people of Alaska down. Maybe, Sarah should have finished her term.. Mike in Montana

July 16, 2009 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |

JakeD

I take it that most of these "hit and run" posts are from people too scared to answer simple questions when challenged?

July 16, 2009 01:12 pm at 1:12 pm |

Bill

Aw, i would rather have him then Obama the Socialist.

July 16, 2009 01:14 pm at 1:14 pm |

frank

As in math she is reducing the equation to the lowest common denominator. I hope that the general population isn't about to show its true colors again. Remember Bush?

July 16, 2009 01:15 pm at 1:15 pm |

jeff jackson ozark, alabama

Here's a great thought. Why don't all of you name callers
on both sides use your real names instead of hiding behind
silly ass code names like cowards do?
And come with facts instead of each of your party's
sound bites !!!

July 16, 2009 01:16 pm at 1:16 pm |

Marcus, Great Lakes IL

SlowGun

@donttreadonme July 16th, 2009 12:15 pm ET

Anyone but Obama at this point. I knew he would come into office and strip our military and National defenses.
______________________________________

Apparently "dontheadonme" is not or does not belong to any veteran's group or he would know that Obama has done more in four months as far as giving more benefits for our veterans and our service members than any president prior to him.

Doesn't anyone do their homework before posting???

July 16, 2009 01:17 pm at 1:17 pm |

Lost in Texas FOREVER

for some reason I keep thinking of "A FOOL AND HIS MONEY...."but I guess that wouldn't apply here now would it?

July 16, 2009 01:17 pm at 1:17 pm |

Leah

If we forget the fact that Romney is a Mormon
He would be an ideal candidate for Republicans
Like him or hate him, this guy is smart and he seems to be able to handle his own.

I cannot see Palin as Republicans candidate for 2012.
I personally think that she should run as conservative independent or a candidate for a new party like 'The Tea Party"

July 16, 2009 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

Bubba

They're in a race? Does the winner buy lunch? Give them both a gold star and send them home happy.
Boy, what a bunch of whackjobs are out today. Bill, how's that medication? Still seeing "leaches?" GOP=POT, what are you smoking, my friend? And good old Dave, who is the only man in the slowly disintegrating world who Knows The Real Truth, inching closer and closer to the snapping point with each passing minute; hang on there buddy! Sarah Palin is going to save you!

Romney and Palin in 2012. That should be the ticket, because they will send obamby back to Illinois.

July 16, 2009 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

citizenjane

@Donttreadonme

I think you are giving the liberal dems and the media too much credit. Sarah Palin helped the process along.

I had a great deal of respect for her when she gave her speech at the RNC in September 2008. She held herself well.

However, I would never vote for her. Not because of the media attention, mind you, but because of policy differences she and I have.

I used her State newspaper, The Anchorage Daily News, and other Alaskan media venues as reference, and reviewed her platform as it had been PRIOR to her acceptance of the VP nomination.

Her VP campaign speeches reinforced my opinions of her.

July 16, 2009 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

NATHAN WIMBERLY

Run Sarah run! President Obama needs four more years to finish cleaning up the GOP mess. He'll win easier than last year.

July 16, 2009 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

Butch

@ Reformed Republican:

You only manifest your severe incompetence. I bet you sent your real US dollars to B.H. Obama, the amoral humanist/secularist/socialist/quasi-marxist who prays to Stalin and is inspired by the marvelous visions of Karl.

I'll take my chances with a man (Romney) who believes meta-narratives were initiiated by a moral God and not an amoral relativist.

Perhaps it is you who shouldn't be allowed to vote.

July 16, 2009 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

gary l. rhodes

At a time when the conservative movement is trying to pull America out of the dive into the abyss of socialism, individual fund raising should take a back seat to a national fund raising campaign to have the necessary capitol it will take to remove the liberals from their seats in the house and senate, thus returning sanity back to the government. Just remember the old Adige "divided and conquer". Conservatives must join together as one. Egos' must be set aside for the common good.

GLR

July 16, 2009 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |

Doug, New Jersey

As long as the person running on the right represents the best of America, the people with morals, values, decency, integrity, and respect for all, with an uderstanding that we are all equal, as Romney and Palin do, it doesn't matter who it is running against Obama, it will be good Vs. evil and this time around the great Americans will not be fooled into supporting a hateful, corrupt, dishonest National Socialist.

Americans are rejecting the lib divide and conquer scheme of having us all defined by silly things like skin color, ethnicity, or religion, knowing that we should all be judged on the content of our charecter. It just so happens that charecter is color based in America at this point and time, red and blue. Just spend a week in a really red area Vs a very blue one and decide which type of person you are.

July 16, 2009 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |

Arron

Mit the flip Romney, too funny. What do you expect from a party that thought Sarah Palin was qualified to be a heart beat away from the presidency? Cripes, she couldn't even handle being Gov of Alaska.

July 16, 2009 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |

T the B

It's really a disgrace that it all comes down to money. In a true democracy intellect decides who runs for office.